The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?

9 best remote control cars for kids that leave the competition in the dust

From Lego builds to the Batmobile, these mini motors will fuel hours of fun

Katie Gregory
Friday 21 October 2022 10:19 BST
Our picks cover toddler-friendly cars and build-your-own kits for older children and teens
Our picks cover toddler-friendly cars and build-your-own kits for older children and teens (The Independent)
Our Top Picks

Every kid wants a remote control (RC) car at some point. Whether it’s a birthday request or a feature on their Christmas wish-list, the humble RC car has been delighting children – and adults – for years.

Irrespective of age, driving a remote control motor is an awful lot of fun. No other toy encourages risk in quite the same way, after all. The faster you can get that car to skid across the kitchen floor, the better – even if it means taking out the cat, your brother’s ankles, and a few dining chairs along the way.

As such, those for kids are usually designed to be more robust than adult models, with controls sized specifically for little hands. Maximum speeds generally increase along with the age recommendation on the box, so it’s worth checking you’re buying a suitable model to ensure they can have at least some control over it.

Playing with an age-appropriate remote control car can increase spatial awareness, hand-eye coordination and fine-motor skills, so there are lots of developmental benefits, too. And an all-weather auto is the perfect excuse to get outdoors and speed through mud tracks and puddles, so be sure to check whether or not it’s waterproof.

If your recipient is a budding petrolhead, look for a scale model of their favourite motor. A 1:15 scale model, for example, is fifteen times smaller than the real thing. Whatever type of remote control car you’re considering, we’ve picked out some of our favourites for kids. These range from toddler-friendly options to build-your-own kits for older children and teens, but don’t be surprised if they’re just as popular with the adults.

How we tested

Our testers – all kids – put a range of remote control cars through their paces. They looked for ones that were easy to control, robust enough to withstand plenty of bumps, and fast enough to thrill. Our budding racing drivers awarded bonus points to those with extra features such as all-weather wheels and waterproof structures, as well as to cars that offered an additional element of play – like building or assembling the vehicle, or lights and sounds.

Our adult testers, meanwhile, factored in marginally more practical points. That includes price, value for money, and battery or charging options.

The best remote control cars for 2022 are:

  • Best overall – Monster Jam megalodon storm 1:15 radio controlled truck: £50, Argos.co.uk
  • Best for building together – Lego 42109 technic control+ app-controlled ‘Top Gear’ rally car: £119.99, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best for indoor racing – Red5 drift speed racer RC car 1:16 scale, blue: £30, Menkind.co.uk
  • Best for imaginative play – Playmobil Porsche mission E: £84.99, Playmobil.co.uk
  • Best for hands-on mods – Hexmods pro series elite raceway: £89.99, Hexbug.com
  • Best for toddlers – Brio remote control race car: £53.73, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best for tractor lovers – Britains case maxxum 150 remote control tractor 1:16: £58.95, Jadlamracingmodels.com
  • Best for young children – VTech switch and go Dash the T-Rex: £54.99, Smythstoys.com
  • Best for speedy superheroes – Batman all-terrain 1:15 batmobile remote control water-resistant vehicle: £39.99, Thetoyshop.com

Monster Jam megalodon storm 1:15 radio controlled truck

Monster Jam megalodon storm 1-15 radio controlled truck.jpg
  • Best: Overall
  • Charging: Car is USB rechargeable, remote requires two AAA batteries (not included)
  • Recommended for : Four years and above

The all-terrain Monster Jam megalodon storm remote control car is a bit of a beast. This chunky shark-styled vehicle – a mini version of the full-size Monster Jam monster truck – has supersized foam wheels that make light work of mud, rocks, and grass. It can even drive on water, which means paddling pools, puddles, and even small streams are fair game.

We like the fact it’s rechargeable via a USB tucked away neatly in the base, so it doesn’t eat through batteries – although you will need two AAAs for the remote control. Speed-wise it’s amazingly nippy and capable of up to 8mph, plus, it’s light enough to perform rollovers and jumps.

The car is recommended for ages four and up and robust enough to withstand all the knocks and bumps you’d expect from this age group. Although, our 10-year-old tester also had a blast playing with it – as did the adults.

Back to top

Lego 42109 technic control+ app-controlled ‘Top Gear' rally car

Lego 42109 technic control+ app-controlled Top Gear rally car.jpg
  • Best: For building together
  • Charging: Car requires 6 x AA 1.5V batteries (not included)
  • Recommended for: Nine years and above

Top Gear fans and Lego Technic lovers alike will enjoy building this rally car inspired by The Stig. It’s aimed at ages nine and up, and with more than 400 pieces to assemble it’ll keep them busy for hours before they’re even ready to drive it. The build is fairly complex and its features are brilliantly detailed, so this is definitely one parents and kids will enjoy building together.

Once it’s ready to go, you’ll need to download the Lego technic control+ app to your phone to drive it. Our tester found the app controls easy to pick up, and liked the fact there are challenges to complete. While it’s not the speediest of remote control cars, this one was by far the most fun to build. It looks great on a shelf, too.

Back to top

Red5 drift speed racer RC car 1:16 scale, blue

Red5 drift speed racer RC car 1-16 scale, blue.jpg
  • Best: For indoor racing
  • Charging : Car is USB rechargeable with battery pack, controller requires 2 x AA batteries (not included)
  • Recommended for: Eight years and above

While the Red5 drift speed racer is suitable for kids aged eight and above, it’s also a nice gift option for older children, teens and adults. It has a spring suspension system, all-terrain tyres, and a 360-degree spin function, although it’s the sideways drift feature that really wowed our testers and sets this one apart from others we tested.

Ours took a while to charge up via USB initially, then nipped around at an impressive speed for about half an hour before it needed a recharge. While this remote control car looks fairly delicate, the anti-collision shell means it can stand up to a degree of rough and tumble outdoors. However, it does struggle on grass and performed much better on hard floor. It’s also not waterproof, which is another reason to keep it inside, but as one of the cheapest options on our list, it’s a brilliant choice for indoor play.

Back to top

Playmobil Porsche mission E

Playmobil Porsche mission E.jpg
  • Best: For imaginative play
  • Charging: Car requires five AAA batteries, remote control requires 3 x AAA
  • Recommended for: Four years and above

Our Playmobil-loving tester was delighted to find a remote control car that ties in with her other sets. It opened up a whole new level of imaginative play in her bedroom, although she was miffed that she couldn’t fit an entire Playmobil family in the back seat of the very swanky Porsche mission E.

The remote control handset that comes with it is nice and easy for young children to use, and gives them control over the lights as well as the speed and steering. The 10m range is more than enough for the average five-year-old’s bedroom, and our tester loved pretending to charge the car up using the little EV charge post. In reality you’ll need five AAA batteries to keep this little motor going, and make sure you stock up – ours ate through them pretty quickly.

Back to top

Hexmods pro series elite raceway

Hexmods pro series elite raceway.jpg
  • Best: For hands-on mods
  • Charging: 2 x Li-ion rechargeable & 3 x AAA batteries (included)
  • Recommended for: 8 and above

The remote control car in this Hexmods pro series elite raceway set is hobby-grade, so it’s a big step up from a toy. You get the chassis plus absolutely loads of mods to build on it – so you can tweak everything from the body styles and hood, to bumpers, spoilers and rims.

Once you’ve settled on aesthetics, you can give it performance upgrades and tinker with everything from the suspension to the drivetrain setup. Our tester enjoyed trying different configurations but needed adult help, as it’s fiddly work with lots of tiny and delicate parts.

However, once it’s up and running it’s a nippy little thing, and we particularly liked the flexible raceway circuit. But the beauty of this one is definitely in the build, and the endless modification options.

  1.  £89 from Hexbug.com
Prices may vary
Back to top

Brio remote control race car

Brio .jpg
  • Best: For toddlers
  • Charging: Seven AA batteries (not included)
  • Recommended for: 24 months and above

Designed for kids aged two years and above, Brio’s remote control race car is nice and big at 26cm long, with a chunky remote control to match. Big buttons are easy for little fingers to operate, and our tester soon got the hang of the arrows. The speed is just right for a first model too, and the plastic chassis stands up to any unexpected crashes.

While the car itself is made from plastic, the little racing driver that sits inside is made from Brio’s trademark wood. Plus, the whole thing looks good enough to leave on display in their bedroom when it’s not being played with. It makes a great gift for a child’s first foray into remote control racing – just be sure to wrap it with seven AA batteries.

Back to top

Britains case maxxum 150 remote control tractor 1:16

Britains Farm Toys case maxxum 150 remote control tractor 1-16.jpg
  • Best: For tractor lovers
  • Charging: 4 x AA batteries and 1 x 9V battery (included)
  • Recommended for: Three years and above

If your children are more into tractors than supercars, they’ll love this 1:16 scale case maxxum 150 from Tomy. Part of the big farm range by specialist toy brand, Britains, it’s suitable for kids aged three-plus and delightfully realistic. Our tester liked the fact he could put his own little figures into the cabin and drive them around – a feature that RC cars aimed at older kids don’t tend to have – and Batman and Luke Skywalker made fabulous farmers.

The remote control with this one was a little tricky for a three-year-old to handle, but our six-year-old tester soon got the hang of it. The cab lights and sound effects add a fun touch too, making this a great option for imaginative play.

Back to top

VTech switch and go Dash the T-Rex

VTech switch & go Dash the T-Rex.jpg
  • Best: For young children
  • Charging: Six AA batteries
  • Recommended for: Three years and above

Another that went down well with our younger tester, Dash the T-Rex is suitable for kids aged three-years and older. And while he might look like a dinosaur, he transforms surprisingly quickly into a remote control car at the touch of a button and comes complete with screechy – but volume-adjustable – sound effects.

You can customise the eyes on the little LCD screen while Dash is in dino mode, or choose your driver when he’s morphed into a motor. This is one of several different switch and go dinos from VTech, so your little one can build up a collection. Just stock up on AA batteries – you’ll need six to bring Dash to life.

Back to top

Batman all-terrain 1:15 batmobile remote control water-resistant vehicle

Batman all-terrain 1-15 batmobile remote control water-resistant vehicle.jpg
  • Best: For speedy superheroes
  • Charging: Car is USB rechargeable, remote control requires two AAA batteries (not included)
  • Recommended for: Four to ten years

This meaty remote control car is very similar to the Monster Jam megalodon storm (£50, Argos.co.uk), and the two are great fun to race side by side. The Batmobile has the same chunky design and supersized wheels that can drive across water, and it made light work of all the terrains we tested it on.

We found the shape of this one made it slightly less stable than the megalodon though, which is the only reason it missed out on the top spot. That said, we love the fact you can put a little 4in action figure in the driver’s seat for an added element of play – just bear in mind there are no figures included. And while the car itself is USB rechargeable, you’ll need two AAA batteries for the joystick remote control, which beeps when your Batmobile is out of range or needs a recharge.

Back to top

The verdict: Remote-control cars

The Monster Jam megalodon storm stood up to no end of mistreatment during testing, and our testers were blown away by the fact that it can drive on water. The Lego technic control+ app-controlled Top Gear rally car is brilliant fun to build and only lost points for the lack of speed – which is a blessing in disguise when you’ve paid that much for Lego.

Get the family singing with the best karaoke machines for kids and adults to take the stage

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in